Bicycle.



No. 700,590. Patented May 20, |902.-

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BICYCLE.

(Application led Mar. 1, 1901.)

ma vmodem 2 sheets-smh w/TA/Erssfs Patented May ,20, |902.

H. c. wEEKs.

BICYCLE.

(Application filed Mar. 1, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(N0 Model.)

W ESSES.'

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UNITED STATES? -'PATIENT FFICE.

HENRY C. VFE-KS, OF BAYSIDE, NEW YORK.

BICYCLE.

sPEcIFIcA'rIoN forming para of Letters Patent No. 700,590, dateaivray 2,0, 1902.

' ippiaaan ma March 1,1901. stanno. 49.437.' mi. mau.)

T0 @ZZ whom i1) may concern:

Be it known'that I, HENRY C. VEEKS, a citizen of the'United-States, and a resident of the city of NewYork,Bayside, borough of Queens, in the county of-Queens and State of New York, have invented a newpand Improved Bicycle, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to bicycles such as shown and described in the Letters Patent of the'United States No. 664,826, granted to me on December 25, 1900.

The object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bicycle arranged to insure an easy propulsion, the bicycle being very simple and durable in construction and composed of comparatively few parts, not liable to get out'of'order.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the'accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in 'which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Views.

Figure l is a side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the handle-bar and seat removed. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the brake and adjacent parts, the section being on the line 3-3 inFig. 4. Fig. 4 is a crosssection of the same. Fig. 5 is an enlarged rear end elevation of the improvement. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the adjustable connection between the rear fork and the center brace. Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of part of the tread.` Fig. 8 is a cross-section of the same on theline 8'8 in Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is anenlarged sidey elevation of the lower end ofthe rear fork and the rear end offthe'rear lower brace.

The frameA of the bicycle is provided with a steering-head A', in which is mounted to turn thefront or steering fork B, carrying the front wheel C andthe handle-bar D. From the steering-head A' extend downwardly and rearwardly the lower braces A2 A2, rigidly connected with each other bybars A4,thelower end of the brace A3 terminating in the rear lower brace'A, formed with diverging arms A0, as is plainly shown in Fig. 2, the brace A2, pre, viously mentioned, also terminating in the brace A5 at or near the beginning of the diverging arms A0. The rear endsof the arms A0 are formed with notches A7, intowhich extend the rear axles A2, secured to or forming integral parts of the lower ends of the meinbers of the rear fork A0, adjustably supporting at its upper end a saddle-post E', carrying a saddle E. .The upper portion of the rear fork A9 is connected by a center brace with the braces A2 A0, and said center brace is made in sections A10 A11, of which ,the section A10 is rigidly secured to the upper end of the rear fork A0 andtelescopes with the section A11. provided onthe section A11 to securely clamp the section' A10 in place after the desired adjustment is made, as` hereinafter more fully described.

On the members of therear fork A9 are formed rearwardly-projectingr lugs with ball bearings A13 for the'axle F of the-wheel G to turn in, and on one side of the axle F is secured-*a pinionH', inV mesh with a gear-wheel A suitable clamping device A12 is I, mounted'to turn on the corresponding axle A8 and securedl'to a small-'double' sprocketwheel .Lover which.A passes a sprocket-tread K, alsopassing over a double sprocket-wheel L, secured 'oni the lfront shaft'N,1journlaled in suitable' bearings .in a hanger O, adjustably held -on the lower end of the braceA0,-as is plainly shown in Fig. 3,said hanger O being secured in place by-a suitable clamping device O. The tread' K, the wheels I, J, and L extend on one side of the frame A, and similar wheels L J are arranged on the other side of the frame, together with a tread K', said wheel L' being preferably a double sprocketwheel secured on the shaft N, and the wheel J' being a doublesproket-wheel mounted to turn on the corresponding" axle A0. The hanger O may be attached to the lower end of the brace A2 to give more inclineto the upper run of the treads K K', and saidlhanger instead of extending downward, as shown, may be turned over to extendon the upper side of the brace A8 or A2 for a like purpose.

On the shaft N, between the hanger O and either of the double sprocket-wheels L or L',

loo

is secured. a brake-wheel?, engaged by a brake-band Q, secured at one end to a clip R,

attached to either the brace A2 or A3, and the other end of said brake-band Q is connected by a chain Q/ or the like with treadles S,-ful crumedon said clip R and adapted to be operated by the riders feet lo impart a swinging lnotion to the treadles S, and thereby apply or release the brake-band Q to brake the bicycle. It is not absolutely necessary that the brake be located on the shaft N, as shown, as it may be-placed on one of the rear axles.

The treads K K are endless, and each is formed with sprocket-chains at the sides to mesh with the double sprocket-wheels J L and J L', respectively. Each of the treads K K is made in sections K2, formed with downwardly-extending flanges K3, supporting outwardly-extendin,f .,r pins K4 for connectinglinks K5 to connect adjacent sections K2 with each other, the adjacent pins of a section K2 b'eing also connected with each other by links K, as is plainly indicated in Figs. 7 and 8. The treads K K are of sufficient width to allow convenient application of the riders feet,

' and the upper run of said treads K K is given any desired inclination from the front downwardly and rearwardly to allow the operator i to conveniently actuate the treads and impart a rotary motion to the sprocket-wheels J J and rotate the rear wheel G bythe gear-Wheel l, meshing with the pinion H, secured to 'the as the case may be, the front axle being in such case the fulcrum on which the adjustment is made. When the rear fork is adjusted from one inclination to another, it is obvious the clamping device A12 will be loosened and tightened, as required. Such adjustment of the rear wheel G obviously raises or lowers the rear ends of the treads K, and thereby changes the inclination of the same. The hanger O may be adjusted on the frame-bar A3 for the purpose of taking up any slack or wear in the treads K.

It is understood that the upper runs of the endless treads K K form an inclined walkingsurface for the riders feet to walk on, and thereby impart a traveling motion to the treads in the direction of the arrow ct, and this motion is transformed into a rotary motion and transmitted tothe rear or driving Wheel G of the bicycle by the wheels J and I and the pinion H to cause the bicycle to travel forward. It is further understood that the rider stands with both feet on the upper runs of the treads, and by exerting his walking powers an alternate motion is given to the treads in the direction ofthe arrowr d', so that the machine receives con tin nous impulses for propelling the bicycle steadily and continuously forward. As the rider stands on the inclined treads, it is evident that not only the Walking power is utilized for the propulsion of the bicycle, butalso the riders weight, and by the rider pnshingon the handle-bars power is added to the legs to propel the bicycle ata very high rate ot' speed. It will-be seen that in using the bicycle the rider is in an upright position, and consequently the health of the rider is not liable to be impaired.

When the rider desires to rest or to stop the bicycle, the feet are removedfrom the treads and placed on the treadles, so that no further propelling impulses are given'to the bicycle, and then if it is desired to operate A the brake the treadles are actuated by the feet to draw the brake-band Q in firm contact with the brake-wheel P to brake the shaftN or one of the rear axles, and thereby retard the traveling motion of the treads K K', the wheels J and I, the pinion H, and the rear wheel G to iinally bring the bicycle to a stop. By having the sprocket-chains on the sides of the treads K K and engaging the sprocketwheels J L J L' there is no slipping of the treads, and consequently positive transmission is had of the power applied for propelling as well as for braking purposes..

By constructing the endless treads as described they are rendered extremely strong and durable, especially by providing a sprocket-chain on each side of a tread.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. A bicycle comprising a front wheel, a rigid frame having a horizontal lower rear brace A6, the rear brace or fork A9, having its ends extended in alinement and constituting journals, sprocket-wheels mounted on said journals, corresponding front sprocketwheels, a transverse front shaft N, journaled in the front portion of the frame, endless traveling treads running on the four sprocketwheels, the rear running wheel journaled in the rear fork above the lower brace, and a gear connection between such running wheel and one of the rear sprocket-wheels, substantially as shown and described.

2. A bicycle comprising a rigid frame having a lower brace, a front wheel, a rear wheel, a rear fork fulcrumed on lower brace, the rear wheel journaled in such rear fork {above the fulcrum, means for holding the rear fork in anyforward-and-back adjustment, sprocket- Wheels mounted on journals formed on the lower ends of the rear fork, afront shaft and sprocket-wheels therein, endless treads running on the sprocket-wheels, and gearing connecting the rear wheel and treads, substantially as shown and described.

3. A bicycle comprising a frame which is fulcrumed on the front axle, and the rear fork or saddle-post, which is adjustable forward and back and fulcrumed at the rear end of IOO IOS

IIO

the rear fork, substantially as shown and dero scribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my the aforesaid frame, the rear wheel journaied on the said fork at a point above its fulcrum, and having a pinion on its axis, a gear-Wheel meshing With the said pinion and having its l name to l(his specification in the presence of 5 axis coincident with the fulcrum of the rear two subscribing Witnesses.

fork, a sbaftNarranged transversely between l the running wheels, and endless treads runi Vitnesses:

ning on sprocket-wheels arranged on said THEO. G. HOSTER,

shaft and other sprocket-Wheels jonrnaled on EVERARD BOLTON MARSHALL.

HENRY C. WEEKS. 

